Sectional conflict intensifies

Sectional conflict intensifies Unit Six

Slavery & Western Expansion Section One

Impact of War • Mexican War heightened opposing viewpoints on slavery • Amendment to a war appropriations bill was proposed by David Wilmot WILMOT PROVISO: proposed that in any territory the US gained from Mexico, there would be no slavery • The proviso stirred passions on both sides • Proviso did not pass

Election of 1848 • Groups of people from the Whigs and Democrats formed the Free-Soil Party in 1848 FREE-SOIL PARTY: opposed slavery in the “free soil” of the western territories • Whig Zachary Taylor won the election

Search for Compromise • Discovery of gold in California in 1848 led to application for statehood • By the end of 1849, the California Gold Rush was in full force • Decision had to be made about slavery in the new state • With Taylor’s help, California applied for admission as a free state

The Great Debate Begins • A few southern states began talking of secession SECESSION: states leaving the Union • Senator Henry Clay began working to find a compromise • Proposed 8 resolutions to solve the crisis

Compromise of 1850 • Congress did not pass Clay’s resolutions • Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois divided the original bill into several smaller ones • By the fall of 1850, Congress had passed all of the original proposal made by Clay • For a short time, the Compromise of 1850 eased tensions over slavery

Mounting violence Section Two

Fugitive Slave Act FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT: law under which a person claiming that an African American had escaped from slavery had only to point out that person as a runaway to bring him or her into custody • Law included financial incentive for federal officers • Hurt the Southern cause by creating active hostility toward slavery among Northerners

Underground Railroad • Whites and free African Americans worked to help thousands of enslaved persons escape • Members, called “conductors,” transported runaways north in secret HARRIET TUBMAN: most famous conductor and a former slave • The Underground Railroad deepened Southern mistrust of Northern intentions

Transcontinental Railroad • Opening of western territory convinced Americans that a transcontinental railroad should be built to connect the West Coast to the rest of the country • Broad appeal for the railroad • Southerners and Northerners disagreed over the starting point and route placement

Kansas-Nebraska Act • Senator Stephen Douglas wanted to open Nebraska as a new territory • Issue of slavery arose again • Southerners wanted to repeal the Missouri Compromise • Douglas proposed dividing the region into two – Nebraska as a free state and Kansas as a slave state

Bleeding Kansas • Kansas became the first battleground between those for and against the extension of slavery • Rush of settlers went to claim land • By March 1856, Kansas had 2 separate governments • Named “Bleeding Kansas” by newspapers, it became the scene of a territorial civil war between pro-slavery and antislavery settlers

Caning of Charles Sumner • In mid-May 1856, Senator Charles Sumner of MA delivered a speech accusing pro-slavery senators of forcing Kansas to be a slave state • Singled out Senator Andrew Butler • Days later, Butler’s cousin, Representative Preston Brooks approached Sumner, yelled at him, and began beating him with a cane • Growing violence over slavery had literally come to the very center of government

The crisis deepens Section Three

Birth of the Republican Party • After the KS-NE Act, new coalition took form • Known as the Republican Party • Republicans did not agree on whether slavery should be abolished altogether • Republicans did agree that slavery should be kept out of the territories

Election of 1856 • Republicans nominated John C. Fremont • Democrats nominated James Buchanan • American Party chose former president Millard Fillmore • James Buchanan won on the idea that he could save the union

Dred Scott Decision • Supreme Court ruled on slavery in the territories • Dred Scott was a slave whose owner took him to a free territory • Scott sued to end his slavery because of time in the free territory • Supreme Court ruled against Scott • Ruling claimed that African Americans were not citizens and count not sue • Further intensified conflict

Lecompton Constitution • Frustration fueled with Bleeding Kansas • Lecompton Const legalized slavery in the territory • Buchanan accepted this and asked Congress to admit KS as a slave state • Congress blocked statehood • Constitution went back to KS for another vote • Settlers in KS decided to reject the Lecompton Constitution

Lincoln and Douglas • In 1858, Republican Abraham Lincoln ran for the Senate against Stephen Douglas • Took part in series of debates before the election • Had differing views on slavery • Douglas won the election, but Lincoln established principles of the Republican Party • Lincoln made a name for himself on a national level

John Brown’s Raid JOHN BROWN: abolitionist who led rebellion at Harpers Ferry • Planned to seize the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, VA and begin a rebellion against slaveholders • 36 hours after seizing the arsenal, Brown was captured • Was tried and sentenced to death • North viewed him as a martyr • South viewed him as proof that Northerners were plotting against them

The union dissolves Section Four

Election of 1860 • John Brown’s raiding was a turning point for the south • In 1860, debate over slavery split Democratic party apart • Republicans nominated Lincoln • Campaigned as more than just anti-slavery • Republican proposals angered Southerners • Vote between Democrats was split and Lincoln won without Southern support

Secession • With Lincoln’s election, many Southerners felt there was no choice but to secede • Dissolution began with South Carolina • State legislature called for convention and unanimously voted for the Ordinance of Secession • By February 1, 1861, 6 more states voted to secede • Southerners felt secession was in the Revolutionary tradition and they were fighting for their American rights

Compromise Fails • Congress tried to find a compromise to stop secession • Secessionists ignored Congressand seized federal property in their states CRITTENDEN’S COMPROMISE: proposed adding new amendments to the Const protecting slavery in certain areas • Lincoln asked Republicans to be firm and it did not pass • Virginia proposed a peace conference but it was unsuccessful

Founding the Confederacy • Delegates met in Alabama and declared themselves to be a new nation CONFEDERACY: the Confederate States of America • Created a constitution that declared each state was independent and guaranteed slavery JEFFERSON DAVIS: president of the Confederacy

Civil War Begins • Lincoln took office in March 1861 • Lincoln wanted reconciliation with the Southern states • Davis decided to take Fort Sumter in SC • Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter for 33 hours – wrecking the fort but killing no one • The Civil War had begun

Fate of the Border States • Lincoln worried about Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri seceding • Maryland and Missouri stayed with the Union • Kentucky became part of the Confederacy • Once the Union had been divided, the issue of preservation shifted to the battlefield

Sectional conflict intensifies